It's OK Thursday #44

Wasn't the 3 day weekend nice? It's already Thursday! Can you believe it?! You know what that means.. time for the link-up of the week! ;)
 
Feel free to play along. Type up a similar post listing what's OK with you this week, grab the button and come back to link up your post.
 

It's OK..

..to get really irritated when your phone dies mid-day

..to get blog inspired while at work and log on to Blogger before it dies on you

..to be crazy super excited about my blogiversary coming up, and y'all should be too! Lots of fun things going on that week ;)

..to lay out by the pool for entirely too long

..to pour wine in a plastic cup so you can take it out to the pool and not get yelled at for having glass

..to bathe your dog every week - his fur gets all greasy lookin' and it drives me nuts

..to have slacked off on Photo a Day May on Instagram, oops! :-/

..to cheat on Pinkberry with Yumilicious

..to wish it were socially acceptable to have fro-yo for breakfast, lunch AND dinner

..to crave your Mama's mac salad every day of the week

..to feel like a fatty for mentioning food so many times in a row, HA!

..to be proud of yourself for scheduling so many posts in advance :)

..to hate that you don't even look forward to payday anymore because it all goes to bills

..to want to see movies that no one else does but you don't want to go to the movies alone

..to wish you had a talent that could make you money

What's OK with you this week? Come link up and share!

 



My Beauty Routine - Skin Care

Today, I want to share what I use to make sure my skin is spic and span! I am NO beauty expert by any means. I love trying new products especially when I am trying to find what works for me.

Plus, I find that beauty type posts are often helpful if/when people are looking for a good product. I know that I like hearing firsthand someone's opinion that I know and value. So here are mine!

To cleanse my face and body, I use the Clarisonic Plus.

This fancy little gadget comes with a hefty price tag. I lusted after one for so long, but I just couldn't justify spending that kind of money. When I got one as a Christmas gift I immediately fell in love and now if I had to, I would totally spend the money on it. It's a god-send. Go get yo'self one!

It came with 3 trial sized face cleansers that I tried and wasn't super impressed with, but they are good for throwing in your travel bag when you can't take your regular sized cleanser.

It also came with the Exfoliating Skin Polish that you can use on your body. I use it on my back and chest area. I love this product and will actually need to order some more again soon. It literally feels like you're just scrubbing the dirt away while you're washing.

I've tried many products on my face and about halfway through the product bottle, it seems like it stops working. For the longest time, I used the Clinique 3-step Skin Care line.

After a while though, I started breaking out horribly like I was 13 years old all over again. It was then that Meg informed me that I needed a face wash that contained salicyclic acid. So I did my research for something that contained the acid but wouldn't break the bank. I found Target's brand Up & Up Oil-Free Acne Wash and decided to give it a shot. If it didn't work, I wasn't going to be out much money.

This stuff is amazing. Within days of using it, all my bright red acne had cleared up. Super impressive. It also smells nice, which is a definite plus if you ask me!

I do still continue to use the toner from the Clinique line, and also the moisturizer for daytime use.

For my nightime moisturizer however I use Befine Night Cream. I received this as a sample in my very 1st birchbox and fell in love! I instantly ordered a full size of the product.

It is very silky and makes my skin feel so refreshed and smooth. It's nice to feel super clean right before bed.

Do you guys use any of these products? Do you have any recommendations for me?

50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind, Pt. 1

Way back when I was making my 101 in 1001 list, I was browsing other lists and saw that people had added to answer the 50 questions that will free your mind.


My curiosity got the best of me, and I looked into this. Once I saw how in depth and challenging the questions were, I knew that I wanted to add this to my list too.


These questions really made me think, and I guess that's why I have put this off for so long. BUT, here it is. I've finally done it.


Since 50 questions is a lot, and the answers can be kinda lengthy, I'm going to do this in 5 parts. I'll post Tuesday of each week until I have answered all 50 questions. Get ready for deep, philosophical Amber. ;)


Also? Let me know if you answer these too, I'd love to read yours!


1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
I thought about this one long and hard, and I've decided that I'd be at least 5-10 years older. I can't tell you how many times I've heard that I'm very wise for my age. I've been told I have an old soul. I am not sure how accurate that is, but sometimes I feel that I AM wise for my age. I can be silly and fun, but I feel a lot more grown-up than a lot of other people my age.


2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?
As cliché as it sounds, I think that never trying is worse. If you never try, you will never know if you'll succeed or fail. So why not try?


3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?
Well, I think we do so many things we don't like because it may already be a habit, and we all know how hard those are to break. It can be a vicious cycle. And liking so many things we don't do? I think we don't do these things out of fear. For example, someone may "like" the idea of going back to school and going after their dream job, but it's a scary realization to actually DO it.


4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
I sure hope not. No one knows what tomorrow will bring. If tomorrow were to be my last day, then yes. I would have said more than I have done. However, I hope and pray that I have MANY more tomorrows so that I can get on doing more.


5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?
I wish I could give everyone what they really and truly want. I want to see people happy. I want to help out those in need. I wish to take away everyone's hurt, if I can.


6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
Spending my days with my family, friends and boyfriend. Nothing makes me happier than those who know me best. Those I can relate to and tell my dreams and secrets to. Also, while I'm sharing with those, if I could have unlimited coffee and a good book, I'd be in heaven.


7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
I believe in caring for people and making sure they're well taken care of. So, I feel like I am pretty much on track in doing what I believe in. I work in the medical field, and want to continue further. I love helping my patients, and doing everything I can in order to make them better and healthier.


8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
I would quit procrastinating on getting back into school. I would get married and start a family sooner. I would travel more, definitely.


9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
I've controlled where I live, the job I have, the friends I have. I try and make things work out for my benefit a lot because I'm a control freak, and I want things the way that I like them. I would say that I've controlled to the maximum of my ability.


10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
I wish I could say both, but I'm more worried about doing things right. I'm a perfectionist to the fullest, and I beat myself up if/when I don't do things the "right" way.


Be sure and come back next week for the next 10 questions!


Have a great day friends!!!

Swap w/ Spring Partners and Giveaway Winner!

Good morning girls. The post you've all been waiting for... Your Swap into Spring partners!!

 Neely & Annabelle

Cami & Nichole

Kate & Amanda

Erica & Jade

Candace & Kasey
Sarah & Cynthia

Heather & Jacinta

Jen & Amber

• Remember you must mail your packages by June 4th.
• Sarah and I will host a linky so you can show off your goodies June 11th -- so get those posts ready!

But wait, what about the giveaway winner?!

Want to know who won their choice of Scentsy Body Spray, Scentsy Body Lotion

 AND

their choice of Botny Solid Brook earrings?!

Thanks to rafflecopter, the lucky lady is...

Heather at Life with Heather!

 Congratulations, Heather!! You will be contacted shortly by the Scentsy representative, Kasey and Dana from Botny!

Thanks to all you for participating.

Now go on.. get to know your partner and get shopping!! We can't wait to see what you guys get one another! :)

  

Friday Letters

TGIfreakin'F. It's a 3 day weekend! 


I always see people linking up with Ashley for Friday's Letters & it looks fun, so I wanted to jump in. :) Everyone needs a little Friday fun!

Dear Nate, I sure am going to miss you when you're gone, but I hope you have a good time with weather in the 50s while I enjoy Memorial Day weekend in the 90s. ;) Dear patients, quit whining so much about allergies. Everyone has them this year. You are not suffering from a life changing head cold. Dear blog friends, I'm pretty sure I love you more than some people I know IRL. Don't change. ;) Dear Jill, thanks for always having a way to figure out whatever predicament I've gotten myself into. I love you like whoa. Dear ankle, how's about ya quit hurting so I can start running again? It's summah time and this girl needs to look good in her bikini. Dear stomach, I'd appreciate it if you didn't crave sweets so much. Also, try and look as flat as possible when I go try on (and hopefully buy) a swimsuit this weekend! Dear Bink, why are you so adorable? Seriously. Dear neighbors, take out your effing trash. Thanks! Dear birthday, you are 2 months from today and I'm super excited even though I have no plans yet!

Hope y'all have a FABULOUS weekend! 

 

It's OK Thursday #43

Oh hello! Welcome to It's OK Thursday! :)
 
Feel free to play along with Neely and I for my most favorite link-up, I know - I'm biased.
 
Just type up a post similar to mine below, grab the button (located to the right!) and come back to link up!
 
Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
 

It's OK..

..to hate drinking the coffee at work

..to be a coffee snob because Starbucks tastes so much better

..to use peppermint mocha coffee creamer in May

..to talk too much about coffee ;)

..to count down to your birthday like a kid

..to eat peppermints all day so you don't eat other crap

..to wish you could work as a professional blogger

..to come to work some days and hope your patients cancel

..to procrastinate entirely too long on some things ..to hate taking off your makeup but do it anyway

..to be planning some fun stuff for blogiversary week - anyone wanna donate?! email me!

..to seriously need to go swimsuit shopping but know it'll be depressing

..to hate waking up early to make an airport run but do it anyway because you love your boyfriend

..to put off getting my CPR recertified, ugh

..to wish I played the lottery so I had a chance to win

What's OK with you this week? Come link up and share!

 

Birchbox: Month 10

Well y'all, this is going to be my last Birchbox post for a while. 


I cancelled my subscription in an attempt to save some money. Sure, it's only $10 a month, but I am trying to cut things out. Plus, I am getting an abundance of samples. Some I don't even use and it's overwhelming my bathroom cabinets now. 


This month was the Gossip Girl box:

I'm going to be honest with y'all. I've never once watched an episode of that show. I know, I'm probably the only person in the world. 


Anyway, a lot of people were excited about this box, but it was just a regular box to me. The Gossip Girl didn't change anything. 


Here are my goods:

Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline Spray - Inspired by luminescent crystals, this elegant scent combines notes of lotus flowers, bamboo, and Nashi pear. 


Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment - This cult favorite has a subtle rosy hue, plus natural sugar extracts to exfoliate and smooth lips. 


Kiehl's Abyssine Cream - A longtime bestseller, this anti-aging moisturizer uses microscopic Abyssine molecules to soften wrinkles and protect skin from free radical damage. 


Miracle Skin Transformer in Glow - Don't settle for anything but flawless skin - all over your body. This tinted treatment erases blemishes and scars on arms, legs, and decollete. 


Birchbox Extra: Notecards - Text messages are no match for handwritten notes on fun, modern stationery. 


My thoughts? 


The perfume smells good, but every single box has had perfume it seems like. Not exciting anymore. LOVE the lip treatment. It's such a pretty color! I am always a fun of creams and moisturizers so the Kiehl's will definitely get used up. I may try out the skin transformer on some scars and see if it really holds up. And the notecard? So cute, I already sent it in a package to Becca. :) 


How was your box this month? Was yours the same as mine? 


Wanna subscribe to Birchbox? Click HERE to get your monthly box of beauty samples. 


Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any form by Birchbox for my review. This is my honest opinion only. 

 

Amber Lately

Oh hi there! You haven't forgotten about me already, have you? 


I know I've been a little scarce on the blog lately, but I'm back in full force! 


Since I haven't filled you guys in on my life recently, and I got the go ahead from Neely to use this idea for a blog post, it's going to be a random mumble jumble of everything. :) 


My little sister had her birthday celebration a couple weekends ago, and we all stayed in a cabin at a campground for the weekend. It was the most adorable little cabin ever! I could've actually lived there.

Sadly, I got super sick that weekend and wasn't able to party it up with my sister like I had originally planned. What I thought was allergies turned into a severe sinus infection and an ear infection that landed me in the ER and put me out of work for a week. 


What a way to spend your vacation time, huh? 


Anyway, I wasn't going to miss out on the rest of my sister's birthday celebration. So I sucked it up for the most part, and stuck it out and even had a piece of her cake!

Is that not the cutest thing you've ever seen?! Such a pretty cake and she loved the pink icing. 


I've been spending lots of time with my best friend and her little girl. I feel so lucky to have the BEST bff. She knows me way too well, that sometimes it's creepy, ha! And if I loved her kid anymore, I wouldn't have enough for my own kids someday.

Seriously? The kid kills me with cuteness. And those pigtails? I DIE! 


Binky has really been warming up to me and Nate so much more now. It took him a little longer than most dogs because he wasn't a puppy when we got him, and he has trust issues. But lately? The dog follows me around everywhere! He's at the bathroom door when I get outta the shower, he follows me to my room when I get dressed, he wags his tail like a madman when he sees me. 


I. Love. It.

Yes, my dog is a boy. But, this opportunity came up and I just couldn't pass it up. And Nate would like me to inform y'all he had nothing to do with this and is thoroughly embarrassed. HA! 


I finally jumped on the 50 shades bandwagon, and I am glad I did. I feel slightly embarrassed admitting that I am totally into these books. I feel like a perv. If it wasn't so popular, there's no way I'd tell you guys about it, HA! I would feel like a total creep loving these books if so many other people didn't feel the same.

Did y'all see the skit SNL did about this trilogy? Oh my god. Effing hilarious. Go look it up on youtube now. You can thank me later. 


This past weekend was spent at all the festivals in Dallas. Friday night we headed out to Main Street Days, which we go to every year. We met up with some friends, listened to good 80s music, rode rides and had foot long corn dogs. Oh yeah, that's right. 


We also got to play with this crazy thing..

Her name is Ponca, and she's almost a year old. She has CONSTANT energy. The dog never stops, and I am surprised I was able to get this picture. It took many tries because they all looked like a blur.

I love this man so much, but he has no idea how to be normal when I pull out the camera. I even say, smile like a regular person and this is what I get. But.. I wouldn't have it any other way. :) Love my silly boy! 


Saturday, Nate had to work 2 of the festivals, and I skipped out on the first one to go hang out with my mama. I met him at his place later and we headed out to Wildflower Festival where Nate was also working. The perks? Getting an access pass and a drink bracelet. Score!

I've gone to work with Nate and seen him do his magic in the studio.. but going backstage with him and actually seeing him onstage and on the big screen was beyond amazing. I love watching him work, and he's just so damn good at what he does. 


At one of the drink booths, the girl who served me told me that I was just the cutest thing she's ever seen. It totally made my night! I love people like that. :) 


I also got to meet up with Neely this weekend and have some girl time and catch up. The original plan was to grab Starbucks and go for a walk. Instead? We grabbed Starbucks and chatted over coffee, then decided we were going to eat a week's worth of calories at one sitting.

Oh yeah. 


So instead of getting some exercise in, we indulged in this instead. Not the best idea, but totally worth it. 


And, just for a little something funny.. My sister and I always tell each other about the funny pins we find, and she told me she found the perfect one for me.

This is the story of my life, everyday. 


Hope y'all have a great week!

 

It's OK Thursday #42

Oh hi there friends! Long time, no talk.

Sorry for my lack of presence around here. Ever since I got sick last week, I have been in a bit of a funk and don't feel like doing much of anything. I'm hoping to change that next week though!

However, I'd never miss out on mine and Neely's weekly link-up. :)

Wanna play along? Just write out a post telling us what's OK with you, grab the button and come back to link it up!

It's OK..

..to be contemplating more "serious and real" posts for the blog

..to be thinking about getting acrylics again

..to be absolutely 100% unable to sleep at night without a sleep aid

..to throw on yoga pants instead of that new sundress you wanna wear because you have nothing to do and don't want an outfit to go wasted

..to feel like you have the BEST best friend in the world and know that no one can top her

..to want to eat 1200 cals in chocolate (that's for you Bec!) ;)

..to have a really hard time dispersing your time

 ..to be totally over drama 

..to miss Starbucks when you don't go

..to want a new blog design when you see other new ones popping up everywhere, but know you can't afford it right now and plus this one is still fairly new-ish

..to be seriously grossed out by some of my patients actions, they have no shame at the doctor's office

..to sit on the phone with your sister for an hour and tell each other funny things you've pinned

What's OK with you this week? Link up and share with us!

 



Swap into Spring & a GIVEAWAY!

Good morning sweet friends!


Today is a special day - wanna know why? Well..


Sarah from Scissors and a Whisk and I have joined together after being partnered together for a swap last fall for a fun gift swap called Swap into Spring!



<center><a href="http://brunchwithamber.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Swap into Spring" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a205/sarah03_06/swapbuttoncopy.jpg"/></a></center>


Not only that.... We have giveaways for y'all, too!


Here's how it'll work:


You aren't required to have a blog for the swap, just an email is all you need. When you sign up with the linky at the bottom, you're in!


When you sign up, you agree to the following:

• You will abide by the posted dates.
• Be the type of partner you would want to have.
• Spending limit will not exceed $15, excluding shipping.
• US only.

Easy as pie!


Ok, ok. So now about those giveaways.

ONE lucky winner will receive...

ANY colored Solid Brook Earrings from Botny! Her earrings are beautiful and hand-crafted.

and....

ANY Scentsy Layers Body Spray and Body Lotion!

Everyone loves Scentsy and if you don't, well then you're crazy! ;)

Enter using the rafflecopter widget below. There are many ways to earn entries, but most importantly, being a part of our swap!

Important dates:

• Deadline to enter the swap is May 25th
• Swap partners will be announced May 28th on both of our blogs
• Giveaway winner will also be announced May 28th
• Gifts must be sent by June 4th
• Reveal your goodies on June 11th - we will host a link-up on that day

Join in on the fun! It'll be a great time. You get to make a new friend, shop, and receive gifts in return! If you join, we'd appreciate it if you shared the Swap into Spring button on your blog.

<center><a href="http://brunchwithamber.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Swap into Spring" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a205/sarah03_06/swapbuttoncopy.jpg"/></a></center>

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Club Friday #14

Hey y'all. Today I'm linking up with Heather and Katie for Book Club Friday.


I LOVE this link-up because it's such a fun way to find new books to read, and see what kind of taste other bloggers have in books.


Wanna link up too? Just click the button below. :)






This week, I'm reviewing Sweet Little Lies by Lauren Conrad.


This is the next book after L.A. Candy, which I reviewed here.

Book description from GoodReads:


Jane Roberts was the average girl next door until she and her best friend, Scarlett Harp, landed their own reality show, "L.A. Candy." Now the girls have an all-access pass to Hollywood's hottest "everything." But there's more to life on camera than just parties and shopping. . . .


When racy photos of Jane are leaked to the press, she finds herself at the center of a tabloid scandal. She turns to her co-star Madison Parker for help, unaware that Madison is scheming behind the scenes. She might be Jane's shoulder to cry on, but does Madison really have Jane's back?


Scarlett's working on a scandal of her own. She's fallen for someone who's strictly off-limits--which means Scarlett has a big secret to keep . . . from the "L.A. Candy" cameras, the paparazzi staking out her apartment, even from her best friend.


Of course, nothing stays secret for long for the stars of the newest hit TV series, and all this drama couldn't be better for ratings. But can Jane survive another season in the spotlight?


My thoughts?


Same as with the first book, I thought these books would be a lot more interesting. Don't get me wrong, they are fun, light-hearted, quick reads, but I expected it to be more gripping, I guess. I had a lot of people ask me if the characters related to those in The Hills, and I didn't really watch that show religiously, so I can't answer that. I can see how they maybe would though? Another 3 stars from me!

Friend me on GoodReads - it's so addicting!

It's OK Thursday #41

Hey y'all! Since I'm sick this week, it'd probably make me feel better if you linked up with us for It's OK Thursday. ;) Yes, I'm not afraid to beg.

It's OK..

..to start feeling really depressed because you've been cooped up in the apartment


..to have lost some mayorships on Foursquare because you haven't left the apartment


..to sleep the majority of your day away


..to be incredibly indecisive


..to be grateful for a boyfriend who comes by everyday to check on me


..to have not changed out of PJs in almost a week


..to have zero appetite


..but have to force myself to eat in order to take meds


..to hate missing work


..to feel lame because this whole post has basically been me complaining

What's OK with you this week? Come link up and share!

Questions?

I've been meaning to do this, but keep forgetting..

I would like to do a Q&A post with my readers. So, feel free to ask me anything at all! I promise to answer to the best of my ability via a VLOG! :)


I finally figured out this whole video thing on the mac, so I wanna try it out.


So, what is it that you've been DYING to know about boring ol' me? ;)


P.S. Sorry for the lack of good blog content and being MIA for the most part. I've been pretty sick since Saturday morning. I still love y'all!

May Sponsors: Erin and Vicki

Tuesday seems to be the perfect day to show some love to my sponsors.. so why not showcase 2 more of them for you guys?


First up, let me introduce you to Vicki who blogs at My Vickilicious Life.

Twitter/FB/Pinterest/MyFitnessPal/GoodReads

Vicki is a twenty-something (she just turned 29 so she must enjoy the time she has left to be able to say she's in her twenties!) from NYC. She says she has THE most amazing boyfriend and has an addiction to nail polish, television, reading, blogging and her iPhone is never far from reach. :)






Then, we have Erin who blogs over at Just a Few of My Favorite Things.

Twitter/Pinterest

Erin has lots of favorite things that she likes to write about: new hairstyles, makeup, nail polish, shopping, fashion, fun and crafty projects, fitness and lots of Pinterest-related ideas! She also likes to run, does yoga and loves to read. She is an elementary school teacher, living in a Washington D.C. suburb in Virginia and loves her job!






Be sure and go show these sweet girls some love and tell 'em I sent ya! :)


Have a great day, my friends!